What is the intercloud?

Intercloud is an internet technology which is based on internet itself. With the advent of cloud computing the scenario has changed a lot. The intercloud allows user to connect multiple cloud networks. This network allows users to share certain files and information in real time. It ensures that documents are updated immediately and makes sure multiple places can have the most up-to-date information at the same time. The term “ Intercloud “ was first time used in the context of cloud computing services. The Intercloud is an interconnected global “cloud of clouds” and an extension of the Internet “network of networks”. Cloud computing hosting has served as a faster and easier way to share information.

Intercloud is been the internet technology which provides more scalable options for the cloud computing platform. Cloud has proved to be an effective and more redundant solution for many a people with the availability of storing their data in a more unified and secured way. Cloud balancing and Cloud bursting require intercloud in order to be as seamless as they are intended to be because without the interoperability and portability across clouds, well, things start to break down. The “Intercloud” is similarly a “cloud of clouds”. Both public and private versions (intraclouds) not only co-exist, but interrelate. Intraclouds (private clouds) will exist for the same reasons that intranets do: for security and predictability.

The very basic nature of intercloud is to exchange information between the distinct computing clouds (storage, compute, messaging etc) be it public or private in a uniform/unified way. This provides an easy base to the information or data to travel among the computers or devices. The higher level inter-connected network atop the current world wide web via linked API’s and data sources. To use the electricity grid analogy, the Internet is like the grid itself – that is, the network of wires and power stations that connect everything together. One can poke electrons in one side and know electrons will pop out the other, even if various links are severed. The standards need to exist so the actually development and deployment of applications across multiple clouds is not only technically but financially feasible. Standards need to exist not just for deployment, but for management and gathering of data – the data that will be needed in order to utilize clouds based on business and operational metrics. Those operational metrics can – and should – include more than physical conditions on the network and in the data center, but also those describing costs – down to the cost of power at the moment, if possible. Business metrics should include cost thresholds, SLAs, and KPIs specific to the business.